Former Paradise mayoral candidate faces charges

A former mayoral candidate for the town of Paradise is set to appear in provincial court in St. John’s next month on charges of criminally harassing a woman and sexually assaulting her with a weapon.
John Michael Roberts, 51, has not yet faced a judge for the two charges, which were laid last week.
Personal information contained in the court documents matches that of the one-time mayoral candidate, who also owns a contracting business.
Roberts lost the mayoral race to Dan Bobbett in the municipal election last Sept. 26.
Police allege that between June 1 and Sept. 30 of last year, Roberts sexually assaulted a woman with a beer bottle. He’s also accused of criminally harassing the same woman, “engaging in conduct that caused her to reasonably fear for her safety and the safety of anyone known to her,” according to the charge, between Jan. 20 and Feb. 18 of this year.
Roberts is banned from having any contact with the woman or going near her home. He is scheduled to appear in court Aug. 9.